Critical Notices [pp. 112-128]

SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER.
thought. Its chief merits, however, are condensation verbiage is bad enough-but the cant of laconism is
and energy. equally as bad. Let us transcribe the Dedication.
Hark-to the midnight bell!
The solemn peal rolls on
That tells us, with an iron tongue,
Another year is gone!
Gone with its hopes, its mockeries, and its fears,
To the dim rest which wraps our former years.
Gray pilgrim to the past!
We will not bid thee stay;
For joys of youth and passion's plaint
Thou bear'st alike away.
Alike the tones of mirth, and sorrow's swell
Gather to hymn thy parting.-Fare thee well!
Fill high the cup-and drink
To Time's unwearied sweep!
He claims a parting pledge fiom us And let the draught be deep!
We may not shadow moments fleet as this,
With tales of baffled hopes, or vanished bliss.
No comrade's voice is here,
That could not tell of griefFill up!-We know that friendship's hours,
Like their own joys-are brief.
Drink to their brightness while they yet may last,
And drown in song the memory of the past!
The winter's leafless bough
In sunshine yet shall bloom;
And hearts that sink in sadness now
Ere long dismiss their gloom.
Peace to the sorrowing! Let our goblets flow,
In red wine mantling, for the tears of wo!
Once more! A welcoming strain!
A solemn sound-yet sweet!
While life is ours, Time's onward steps
In gladness will we greet!
Fill high the cup! What prophet lips may tell
Where we shall bid another year farewell!
With this extract, we close our observations on the
writings of Mrs. Ellet-of Miss Gould —and of Mrs.
Sigourney. The time may never arrive again, when
we shall be called upon, by the circumstances of publication, to speak of them in connexion with one another.
THE PARTISAN.
The Partisan:. Tale of the Revollution. By the author
of " The Yemassee," " Guy Rivers,",c. New York:
Published by Harper and Brothers.
Mr. Simms has written, heretofore, "Atalantis, a
Story of the Sea"-" Martin Faber, the Story of a
Criminal"-" Guy Rivers, a Tale of Georgia," and
"The Yemassee, a Romance of Carolina." Of these
works, Martin Faber passed to a second edition-" Guy
Rivers," and "The Yemassee" each to a third. With
these evidences before us of our author's long acquaintance with the Muse, we must be pardoned if, in reviewing the volumes now upon our table, we make no allowances whatever on the score of a deficient experience.
Mr. Simms either writes very well, or it is high time
that he should.
"The Partisan" is inscribed to Richard Yeadon, Jr.
Esq. of South Carolina; and the terms in which the
compliment is conveyed, while attempting to avoid
Scylla, have blundered upon Charybdis. The cant of
To RICHARD YEADON, JR. ESQ.
Of South Carolina.
Dear Sir,
My earliest, and, perhaps, most pleasant rambles in
the fields of literature, were taken in your companypermnit me to remind you of that period by inscribing
the present volumes with your name.
THE AUTHOR.
Barnvell, South Carolina.
July 1, 1835.
This is, indeed, the quintessence of brevity. At all
events it is meant to be something better than such
things usually are. It aims at point. It affects exces sive terseness, excessive appropriateness, and excessive
gentility. One might almost picture to the mind's eye
the exact air and attitude of the writer as he indited the
whole thing. Probably he compressed his lips-possi bly hlie ran his fingers through his hair. Now a letter,
generally, we may consider as the substitute for certain
oral communications which the writer ofthe letter would
deliver in person were an opportunity afforded. Let
us then imagine the author of "The Partisan" present ing a copy of that work to "Richard Yeadon, Jr. Esq.
of South Carolina," and let us, from the indications
afforded by the printed Dedication, endeavor to form
some idea of the author's demeanor upon an occasion
so highly interesting. We may suppose Mr. Yeadon,
in South Carolina, at home, and in his study. By and
bye with a solemn step, downcast eyes, and impressive
earnestness of manner, enters the author of "The Yemassee." He advances towards MNlr. Yeadon, and,
without uttering a syllable, takes that gentleman affectionately, but firmly, by the hand. Mr. Y. has his
suspicions, as well he mnay have, but says nothing.
Mr. S. commences as above. "Dear Sir," (here follows a pause, indicated by the comma after the word
"Sir"-see Dedication. Mr. Y. very much puzzled
what to make of it.) Mr. S. proceeds, " My earliest,"
(pause the second, indicated by comma the second,)
"and," (pause the third, in accordance with comma the
third,) "perhaps," (pause the fourth, as shewn by comma
the fourth. Mr. Y. exceedingly mystified,) "most pleasant rambles in the fields of literature," (pause fifth) "were
taken in your compa2iy" (pause sixth, to agree with the
dash after'company.' Mr. Y.'s hair begins to stand
on end, and he looks occasionally towards the door,)
"permit me to remind you of that period by inscribing the
present volumes with your name." At the conclusion of
the sentence, Mr. S. with a smile and a bow of mingled
benignity and grace, turns slowly from Mr. Y. and
advances to a table in the centre of the room. Pens and
ink are there at his service. Drawing from the pocket
of his surtout a pacquet carefully done up in silver
paper, he unfolds it, and produces the two volumes of
"The Partisan." With ineffable ease, and with an air
of exquisite haut ton, he proceeds to inscribe in the title
pages of each tome the name of Richard Yeadon, Jr.
Esq. The scene, however, is interrupted. Mr. Y.
feels it his duty to kick the author of" The Yemassee"
down stairs.
Now, in this, all the actual burlesque consists in
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